Blacklisted News – Topo, Beware of Images
First, let me say something about the polarization I have seen surrounding the subject. Calling all who support military action “ignorant warmongers”, or all who oppose it “pro-genocide cowards” is not only an inflexible position, but one that is not conducive to a proper understanding of this –or any– sociopolitical conflict. I don’t practice that kind of name-calling, and hope you’ll refrain from it as well.
Robert McNamara, one of the main architects of the Vietnam war and the Secretary of Defense under Presidents Kennedy and Johnson, once said:
“Me and my associates thought we were acting in accordance with the principles of our great nation. But we were wrong, and we owe it to future generations to explain why, so that we can draw the lessons and avoid making the same mistakes. We saw Vietnam as a war of principle, ideology and values. A clear war of aggression from the Communists against the people of Vietnam. But we were wrong, it was a civil war, and we failed to understand that. We didn’t know the Vietnamese well enough to empathize with them, and there was total misunderstanding as a result. We saw Vietnam as an element of the Cold War, not what they saw it as: A CIVIL WAR.”
My heart breaks every time I’m made aware of the situation in Syria. I feel hopeless and helpless. I wish someone had the power to intervene and stop the bloodshed, but that someone doesn’t exist. No external, unilateral force can resolve an internal multi-lateral problem. I also mistrust the efforts and intentions of the “civilized” nations preparing for a possible military intervention, as they are the same nations which have supplied both sides with the weapons being used to kill each other. And they all conveniently and unequivocally support only the “facts” which coincide with their geopolitical interests. Such level of dishonesty will never serve the complex and diverse interests of the people of Syria.
I absolutely support a well-orchestrated multinational intervention. One that provides the required weapons and personnel to deliver humanitarian aid to the victims of the ongoing conflict. One that is executed in tandem with international measures –diplomatic, political and economic– that would pressure the conflicting parties to reach a compromise.
Through unilateral interventions, the Syrian civil war is certain to become a proxy war. One where the funding nations are more likely to be looking after their own economic and geopolitical interests that those of the people of Syria. Historically, proxy wars have always been disastrous for the local populations.
Of course, I find it difficult to suggest a strategy which will require plenty of time and negotiations, while children are dying. I literally broke down in tears watching the horrifying images coming out of Syria. That said, under similar circumstances, externally funded sectarian wars have proven to be even worse.
Yes, diplomacy will take time, resources and lives. But you have to ask yourself: Is war less time-consuming? less resources-consuming? less life-consuming? After 30 years of ongoing conflict in Afghanistan and 10 years in Iraq, with millions of lives lost, maimed and traumatized, my personal answer is NO.
Regardless of my opinion of McNamara as a politician, I agree with him that all we can do to make things better is try to learn from past mistakes. We seem to be almost incapable of doing so.
I’d like to acknowledge that my opinion means little, and is of no consolation, to those who are currently suffering the ravages of war. I wish I could do more than bring attention to it, but writing about it is my way of resisting helplessness.
I send my love to the people of Syria, and I hope we all do what’s in our power to ensure a prompt resolution and positive outcome to the conflict.” -Topo
Look. The ONLY way most Americans will understand the consequences of our governments illegal actions abroad, whether Vietnam or Syria, is if what happened or is happening, happens here.
yes
I wonder then
if they will understand it….after it happening here